server

server — noun

1. a powerful computer connected to other machines, designed to store shared inform

1.名詞B1
釋義

a powerful computer connected to other machines, designed to store shared information and provide access to files, websites, or email across the network — for example, a web server that delivers web pages to your browser.

例句

Adina checked whether the server was running before sending the email.

The company's server stores all customer data in a secure location.

collocation: server stores data

同義詞
  • host

    stresses the idea of hosting or running applications; 'host' is more common in cloud computing contexts

  • mainframe

    a much larger, older type of central computer; not interchangeable with modern network servers

反義詞
  • client

    the computer or device that receives data from a server

用法筆記

Commonly modified by the function it serves: web server, file server, email server, database server. The word is also used for the software that runs on such a computer.

常見錯誤

❌ 'My laptop is the server of my home network.' — 'My laptop acts as a server on my home network.' — A computer is not inherently a server; it can be set up to function as one.

❌ 'I need a new server computer.' — 'I need a new server.' — 'server' already implies the computer; adding 'computer' is redundant.

2. a tool such as a large spoon or fork that is used to put food onto plates when s

2.名詞B1
釋義

a tool such as a large spoon or fork that is used to put food onto plates when serving a meal at the table.

例句

Amani used a small server to place slices of cake onto each plate.

collocation: cake server

The salad server has a wide, flat shape that makes it easy to lift lettuce.

同義詞
  • serving spoon

    more common in everyday speech; 'server' is slightly more formal and often used for specialised utensils

  • serving utensil

    a broader term that also includes tongs, ladles, and other serving tools

用法筆記

Often preceded by the type of food it is designed for: cake server, salad server, pie server, cheese server. Can also be called a 'serving spoon' for simpler utensils.

常見錯誤

❌Pass me the server for the soup.
✅Pass me the soup ladle.
💡'server' normally refers to utensils for solid or semi-solid foods, not liquids.

3. a person whose job is to bring food and drinks to customers at a restaurant tabl

3.名詞A2
釋義

a person whose job is to bring food and drinks to customers at a restaurant table and take their orders.

例句

The server brought us water and menus shortly after we sat down.

David asked the server whether the soup contained any nuts or dairy.

collocation: ask the server

同義詞
  • waiter

    more traditional term; often implies a male server

  • waitress

    female server; less common now in favour of gender-neutral 'server'

  • food server

    more explicit but less common in everyday use

用法筆記

This term is gender-neutral and increasingly preferred over 'waiter' or 'waitress'. Common in North American English; 'waiter' and 'waitress' remain frequent in British English.

常見錯誤

❌I asked the waitress for the bill.' (when meaning a male server)
✅I asked the server for the bill.
💡'server' avoids guessing the gender of the person serving you.

4. the player who hits the ball to begin play on each point in tennis, badminton, v

4.名詞B1
釋義

the player who hits the ball to begin play on each point in tennis, badminton, volleyball, or similar games.

例句

The server hit the ball so hard that the receiver could not return it.

antonym pair: server vs receiver

As the server, Caleb won the first three points of the match.

sports sense: server = player who begins play

同義詞
  • serving player

    more explicit but less concise; used mainly in formal descriptions of the rules

反義詞
  • receiver

    the player who receives the serve

用法筆記

In tennis, players alternate as server and receiver each game. The server has an advantage because they control how the point starts.

常見錯誤

❌The server served the ball to the other player's side.
✅The server hit the ball into the service box.
💡The ball must land in the correct area (the service box), not just any spot on the other side.

5. a person, often a child or teenager, who assists a religious leader during a wor

5.名詞B2
釋義

a person, often a child or teenager, who assists a religious leader during a worship service by carrying candles, holding books, or preparing items used in the ceremony.

例句

The altar server handed the priest the chalice during the morning service.

collocation: altar server

Amira volunteered to be a server at her local church every Sunday.

同義詞
  • altar server

    more specific and more commonly used than 'server' alone in this sense

  • acolyte

    a more formal term; often used for older or trained servers

用法筆記

Also called altar server or acolyte. This role is common in Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions. The term 'server' alone may be unfamiliar to non-religious learners.